I made shirts.

For a Sally Beauty Supply commercial I handmade a bunch of shirts for the stylists. My cat Kipling was there to observe and criticize my work.

Although I was given a PDF of the logo but the image was too small so I recreated it via Photoshop. I then reversed the image and used Avery Light Fabric Transfer paper to print and iron the logo on 15 shirts.

You should definitely try some do-it-yourself iron-ons in the near future because it's super easy, costs $24 for an 18 sheet pack and they look pretty damn good. But there are a few things to keep in mind:

1) Cut the paper carefully. Whatever part that does not have your logo, it will be the white paper instead. I chose to do a rectangle box because I was transferring lettering and it gave it a clean look. You can barely the transfer paper on the white shirt though so no need to stress too much!

2) Be careful not to leave the iron on the fabric for too long (ie. don't do a mini-photoshoot while the iron is on the fabric) because it can singe the transfer paper and leave it looking yellow. 

3) Be prepared to spend a ton of money on this paper because you will be addicted and start an Etsy store with your own artwork transferred on t-shirts and tote bags.

 

{Kipling is not very pleased with my ironing skills}

True style is timeless.

I'm in love with this quirky fashion spread "Do You Know Who I Am?" from the August issue of Tatler. I'm always a fan of mixing the present with the past. As my costume classmate Dan tends to points out, I have a tendency of doing this in all my costume design projects.

And kind I just take a moment to point how how refreshing it is to have a fashion icon style spread and not have an Audrey Hepburn or Jackie Kennedy is sight! As much as I love, love, love those ladies it's nice to let some other stylish folks shine.

Check out Fashion Gone Rogue for the full editorial spread. Pictures include Princess Diana, Marlene Dietrich, Madonna, Coco Chanel, Jean Shrimpton, Twiggy, Tina Turner and Grace Kelly.

{Judging from my favorites I'm clearly outing my inner Anglophile}

 {all images via Fashion Gone Rogue}

It Ended.

Last night with a lightning bolt on my head and a "Save Ginny from the Basilisk" t-shirt on I saw it all end. It's about time for Snape to get the respect he deserves from that Potter kid!

It's been 12 years since I started reading the books and I've loved every minute of it.  Looks like I might have to grow up now or something...

Mischief Managed

AT&T: They Grow Up Fast

There sure has been a rush of new projects. A double Sally Beauty commercial day on Sunday and then yesterday it was AT&T. The premise of this one is a boy and his dad are at the zoo and see a bug. The dad pulls out his phone to find more info about the bug and because his service takes to long, his son grows up.

It's tough when you have absolutely no budget and have to pull together costumes from the actors' wardrobes. This happens when actors aren't cast until a few days beforehand. It gets even worse when there is a sight gag that relies on different actors in matching costumes. For this shoot the boy grows up before our eyes. To indicate that we put the both actors in the same costume. The only thing to get through it is insist on a budget (which goes over so well with producers) or make those actors bring in as many clothes as they possibly can and pretend you're on Project Runway.

Father and son(s):

The background cast:

Sally Beauty Supply

I've been having a fantastic week. Right now I'm designing costumes for a couple of spec commercials with director Yuyo Villamar. How spec commercials work (or at least how I think it does) is an advertising agency orders these commercials using production companies, then after seeing the final cut they decide if they want to use them.

Sunday we shot 2 versions of a commercial for Sally Beauty Supply: one in English and one habla Español. The lead actress was bilingual but there were two actors that played the male lead. The premise is a woman invites her date, ahem, "up for a nightcap," ahem, while her team of Sally stylists observe at the edge of the bed, making sure she looks flawless. Whether or not these ads get picked up, they were a lot of fun to work on. 11 actors + 7 crew members in one very small bedroom for 8 hours = good times for all!

Our Leading Lady and her Stylists:

The English and Spanish versions of our Leading Man:

Stylists proud of their handiwork:

5am call time

I always get excited the night before filming. It's the same feeling I got when I was a kid on the night before Christmas or before going to an amusement park. Anticipation and excitement is in the air.

This is what I'll grooving in the early AM before heading off to my latest project's film shoot.

Dead people need love too

 My big sister Esther stars in this cute video about fang love :) Apparently horror films run in the family.

Catwoman's Claws

From Batman Returns, Tim Burton's early concept sketches for Catwoman. Glove designed by Bob Ringwood and Mary Vogt.

(Images from the LACMA Tim Burton exhibit via The Fox is Black  }

Edward Scissorhands

There was no photography at the Tim Burton Exhibit but The Fox is Black managed to get some. Here are detail shots of the Scissorhands costume designed by Colleen Atwood.

{All images via The Fox Is Black  }

Burtonologie

Coming off the school year I've been feeling creatively drained. I'm just now beginning to reboot thanks to some wonderful exhibits. First the Debbie Reynolds auction and now the Tim Burton exhibit at the LACMA. There ios so much to see and think about I'm still processing everything. He is clearly a born story-teller and the exhibit is the closest you can get to crawling inside his brain

Thank you Mr. Burton for making me itch to draw again.

Check out The Fox Is Black for some hi res images of some of the artwork. These are a few of my favorites.

{All images via The Fox Is Black  }

My fair lady, indeed

The main attraction at the Debbie Reynold's auction may be the Seven Year Itch dress, but Audrey Hepburn's Ascot dress is the most iconic to me. Cecil Beaton's gown is so damn striking I can barely stand it. The ribbon and bows are so bold in contrast to the white lace, making the dress stand out in a room of fabulous costumes. Of course, a gargantuous hat always helps. I could have stared at it all day, but there was a long and extremely pushy line of old ladies behind me with bony elbows.

Here's the dress in all it's black and white glory.